Tell Your Senator to Stand up for International Family Planning

Millions of women in developing countries want to avoid pregnancy but lack access to contraception. They need your help now to support international family planning programs.

This spring House Republicans attempted to drastically cut – and even eliminate – funding for family planning and reproductive health. Now it is more important than ever that the Senate show their support for these life-saving programs.

Senator Barbara Boxer, a long-time champion for family planning and reproductive health, is circulating a letter among her colleagues in the Senate in support of strong funding for these programs. Her letter urges the Appropriations Committee to provide $769.1 million for international family planning and reproductive health programs in Fiscal Year 2012, including $47.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund. This is the funding level that President Obama requested for Fiscal Year 2012. It would be a critical step toward investing $1 billion annually and meeting the U.S. share of the global need for these critical programs.

We need your help to urge Senators to sign onto the Boxer letter and show their commitment to these important programs, which are cost-effective and save lives. The deadline for signatures is this Wednesday, June 15 – we need your help today!

Letter to

U.S. Senate

As a constituent who strongly supports international family planning programs, I urge you to join Senator Boxer in support of robust funding for these programs. Please sign Senator Boxer’s letter in support of President Obama’s funding request of $769.1 million for international family planning and reproductive health, including $47.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Meeting this funding level would be an important step toward investing $1 billion annually and meeting the U.S. share of the global need for these critical programs, which are cost-effective, save lives and support our broader diplomatic, development and national security priorities.

Providing access to family planning services strengthens our efforts to decrease maternal and child mortality, reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV and combat gender-based violence. It also supports our broader development goals including slowing population growth, easing pressure on natural resources and helping to create a healthier, more sustainable environment.

The deadline for signatures is Wednesday, June 15 – please show your support for these life-saving programs by signing on today!